Player of the Year

[Mikey]

SDSU punter Matt Araiza.

On Saturday in a game against Hawaii, standing on his own 12 yard line, he kicked one into the opposite end zone. On the fly. 79 yards net. He has two punts this season of over 80 yards. More than the total number in the NFL over something like the past eight years. The highlights are in the link below. These aren’t kicks that go 40 yards and roll, either. Just fucking amazing.


https://deadspin.com/we-re-witnessing-t ... 1848025116

[Mikey]

Ray Guy was picked in the first round in 1973 by the Raiders. 23rd overall pick. I’m not sure if any others have gone in the first round but I don’t think the Raiders ever regretted that one.

[Softball Bat]

I'd guess he'll go in the 3rd or 4th round.

Ray Guy was taken in the 1st round in an era when playing for field position had much more value than it does now.
And Al was a renegade thinker who did what nobody else was willing to do (take a punter that high).

NFL teams punted 3.7 times per game last season, so do you burn a high draft pick on a guy that will be out there for 3-4 plays a game?

That is not to talk down on this kid, because he is clearly a big talent as a punter.

It is fun to watch somebody do something SO much better than anyone else.

[Screw_Michigan]

I'd guess he'll go in the 3rd or 4th round.

Ray Guy was taken in the 1st round in an era when playing for field position had much more value than it does now.
And Al was a renegade thinker who did what nobody else was willing to do (take a punter that high).

NFL teams punted 3.7 times per game last season, so do you burn a high draft pick on a guy that will be out there for 3-4 plays a game?

That is not to talk down on this kid, because he is clearly a big talent as a punter.

It is fun to watch somebody do something SO much better than anyone else.

If the Lions were smart they'd draft this guy in the first round instead of fucking up another high round draft pick as they usually do.

[Mikey]

This actually is his first year as a punter on the Aztecs. In 2019 and 2020 he was the placekicker and he hit something like 75% with a range of well over 50 yards. This season he's doing both, as well as kickoffs, with the highest touchback % in CFB.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... iego-state

https://twitter.com/i/status/1439386545732132872

[Smackie Chan]

Is he able to control his distance to get punts able to be downed inside the 10? Awesome talent to be able to kick that far, but it’s kinda useless if the line of scrimmage is near midfield. Hard to imagine NFL teams willing to pony up 1st round $$ on a kicker, but if he’s an accurate place kicker from distance as well as a monster punter, 2nd or 3rd round is plausible.

[Go Coogs']

If I were the Texans I’d draft this guy #1 overall next season and have him punt on first down. It’s their only chance at not losing by 20+


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[Mikey]

Is he able to control his distance to get punts able to be downed inside the 10? Awesome talent to be able to kick that far, but it’s kinda useless if the line of scrimmage is near midfield. Hard to imagine NFL teams willing to pony up 1st round $$ on a kicker, but if he’s an accurate place kicker from distance as well as a monster punter, 2nd or 3rd round is plausible.

His 86 yard punt rolled dead on around the 6 yard line. His 81 yard punt rolled stopped at around the 11. Both of these travelled probably 70+ yards in the air. The one in the Hawaii game the, Rainbow Warriors had one punt returner stationed 50 yards downfield and another 70 yards downfield, and he kicked it well over both of their heads.

[Smackie Chan]

Is he able to control his distance to get punts able to be downed inside the 10? Awesome talent to be able to kick that far, but it’s kinda useless if the line of scrimmage is near midfield. Hard to imagine NFL teams willing to pony up 1st round $$ on a kicker, but if he’s an accurate place kicker from distance as well as a monster punter, 2nd or 3rd round is plausible.

His 86 yard punt rolled dead on around the 6 yard line. His 81 yard punt rolled stopped at around the 11. Both of these travelled probably 70+ yards in the air. The one in the Hawaii game the, Rainbow Warriors had one punt returner stationed 50 yards downfield and another 70 yards downfield, and he kicked it well over both of their heads.

Got it, dude's got length. But can he punt from, say, his own 45 and keep it in the stadium? Being able to coffin corner it or kick it 45 yds instead of 75 is at least as valuable as punting for a touchback every time.

[Mikey]

Haven’t been watching him that long. But his net average is also leading CFB I think. There’s also a video out there from the Aztecs upset over Utah where he punted and then ran downfield through all of his teammates and put a hard tackle on the returner who was trying to break outside.

[Smackie Chan]

Ray Guy was picked in the first round in 1973 by the Raiders. 23rd overall pick. I’m not sure if any others have gone in the first round but I don’t think the Raiders ever regretted that one.

They also took Sebastian Janikowski 17th overall in 2000 and he stayed with ‘em for 18 yrs. I’m guessing they were happy in hindsight with the pick so they have a history of success drafting kickers high. One who can do both? The Raiders would be the team to take the chance. In Vegas.

[L45B]

It's like watching Henry Rowengartner throw

Careful, your voice just cracked a little.

[Softball Bat]

Ray Guy was picked in the first round in 1973 by the Raiders. 23rd overall pick. I’m not sure if any others have gone in the first round but I don’t think the Raiders ever regretted that one.

They also took Sebastian Janikowski 17th overall in 2000 and he stayed with ‘em for 18 yrs. I’m guessing they were happy in hindsight with the pick so they have a history of success drafting kickers high. One who can do both? The Raiders would be the team to take the chance. In Vegas.

Ray Guy was worth the 1st round pick.
Jankowski is more of a debate.

He kicked a lot of long FGs and he booted a lot of kickoffs out of the end zone, but he was not as consistent with his FGs as top kickers of his era were.